Spot clinch means and method

ABSTRACT

Spot clinch .Iadd.apparatus and .Iaddend.method for forming a spot clinch joint by lancing and swaging two or more materials together using one complete stroke of a .Iadd.ram driven by a .Iaddend.power source in a single station, .[.the power source having a power stroke and a retract stroke, said.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.method utilizing an anvil, die and punch .Iadd.arranged in a tool body.Iaddend., .[.said.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.method comprising .[.moving either the punch or anvil.]. .Iadd.connecting the ram to the power source so that the ram is driven in a power stroke and a retract stroke, joining one of the punch and anvil to the ram and the other to the tool body, whereby one is made moveable .Iaddend.while .[.maintaining.]. the other .Iadd.is maintained .Iaddend.stationary .Iadd.in respect to the tool body .Iaddend.during the complete stroke of the .[.power source.]. .Iadd.ram.Iaddend., .[.moving.]. .Iadd.and providing camming actions responsive to the stroking movement of the ram for controlling positioning of the die relative to the anvil and punch during the complete stroke of the ram, said .Iaddend.one of the punch and anvil .Iadd.being moved .Iaddend.toward the other during a first part of the power stroke, .[.lancing.]. the materials .Iadd.being lanced .Iaddend.by piercing them with the punch and die during a second part of the power stroke, .[.holding.]. .Iadd.one of the camming actions controlling positioning of .Iaddend.the die in a first position .[.spaced from.]. .Iadd.stationary in respect to .Iaddend.the anvil during both the first and second parts of the power stroke, .[.moving.]. .Iadd.another camming action controlling movement of .Iaddend.the die .Iadd.from its first position .Iaddend.to a second position .Iadd.stationary .Iaddend.in respect to the anvil during a third part of the power stroke, .[.swaging.]. the lanced .[.portion.]. .Iadd.portions .Iaddend.of the materials .Iadd.being swagged with the punch and anvil .Iaddend.during a fourth and final part of the power stroke, .[.maintaining.]. .Iadd.another camming action controlling positioning of .Iaddend.the die .[.and the anvil.]. in .[.the.]. .Iadd.its .Iaddend.second position .Iadd.stationary in respect to the anvil .Iaddend.during the fourth and final part of the power stroke and during a first part of the retract stroke, and .[.moving.]. .Iadd.another camming action controlling movement of .Iaddend.the die relative to the anvil from .[.the.]. .Iadd.its .Iaddend.second .[.position.]. to .[.the.]. .Iadd.its .Iaddend.first position during a second and final part of the retract stroke.[...]..Iadd., providing a moveable die retainer for holding the die, the camming action controlling movement of the die and die retainer from said first to said second position being initiated by the continued movement of the ram in the third part of its power stroke, and the camming action controlling movement of the die and die retainer from the second to the first position being initiated by the continued movement of the ram in the second and final part of its retract stroke. .Iaddend.

.Iadd.This application is a reissue application of my originalapplication Ser. No. 494,982 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,900,937. .Iaddend.

My invention relates to means and method for fastening two or morematerials together utilizing a punch and die mechanism wherein thematerials are lanced and swaged to fasten them together.

There are many conventional methods of fastening sheet materialstogether by lancing and swaging including the use of a punch and die intwo separate stations, or two separately actuatable rams in a singlestation. Also it is known to use a single station by the use of a springactuated expanding die or by a spring actuated swaging punch.

The principal .[.obejct.]. .Iadd.object .Iaddend.of my invention is toaccomplish the fastening of two or more sheet materials with method andapparatus using one complete stroke of a .Iadd.ram driven by a.Iaddend.power source in a single station and without the necessity ofan expandable die or expandable swaging punch.

Another object of my invention is to achieve a compact, self-containedmechanism which can be easily transported to the materials beingfastened, as well as be mounted fast to a table, bench or the like.

The foregoing objects of my invention and the advantages thereof willbecome apparent during the course of the following description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are, respectively, top and bottom plan views of two metalsheets fastened together by a spot clinch joint formed by lancing andswaging in accordance with my invention;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the structure of FIG. 1 takenalong the line 3--3 thereof;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the structure of FIG. 3 takenalong the line line 4--4 thereof;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a typical punch, die and anvil set usedin my invention;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of a spot clinching tool embodyingmy invention shown in fully open starting position;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view like FIG. 6 but with said tool shown in aforward position of the power stroke where the lancing of the sheets hasjust been completed;

FIG. 8 is horizontal sectional view of the structure of FIG. 6 takenalong the line 8--8 thereof;

FIG. 9 is a horizontal sectional view of the structure of FIG. 7 takenalong the line 9--9 thereof;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view like FIG. 6 but with said tool shown in afurther forward position of the power stroke where the die has justretracted;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view like FIG. 6 but with said tool shown in thefully forward position of the power stroke where the lanced portion ofthe joint has been swaged;

FIG. 12 is a horizontal sectional view of the structure of FIG. 10 takenalong the line 12--12 thereof;

FIG. 13 is a horizontal sectional view of the structure of FIG. 11 takenalong the line 13--13 thereof;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view like FIG. 6 but with said tool shown in areturn position of the retract stroke where the punch has retracted fromthe lanced portion of the joint;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view like FIG. 6 but with parts removed and withsaid tool shown in the final position of the retract stroke where thedie has been cammed above the anvil and the punch has been fullyretracted and in position to start the next power stroke; and

FIGS. 16 and 17 are horizontal sectional views of the structure of FIG.14 taken, respectively, along the lines 16--16 and 17--17 thereof.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, 20 generally designatessaid spot clinch tool and 21 said spot clinch joint formed thereby. Saidtool 20 includes a main body 27 which houses or holds the other parts.The main body 27 consists of a large block of metal having a cavity 30,a crank aperture 28, a spring cavity 29, an access aperture 31, and ananvil-holding aperture 33 formed therein. Mounted to said body 27 is apower source 32 which imparts reciprocating motion to a crank 51 of thespot clinch tool 20. .Iadd.Said crank 51 is connected to a punchretainer 45 which serves as a ram. .Iaddend.Said power source 32 has onecomplete stroke consisting first of a power stroke and second (andlastly) of a retract stroke. In the instance, said power source 32 is apneumatic cylinder having a piston rod having a rod end 56. A link 54 isconnected to said rod end 56 by a pin 55 and to said crank 51 by a pin52. Said crank 51 is also connected to .[.a.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.punchretainer 45 by a pin 50 and to a pair of links 57 by a pin 53..Iadd.Said ram or punch retainer 45, like said power source 32, has onecomplete stroke consisting of a power stroke and a retract stroke..Iaddend.Said links 57 are connected to said body 27 by a pin 61.Rigidly mounted to said links 57 is a cam actuator 58 which has spacedapart cam actuating fingers 59 and 60. Mounted between said links 57 andon said pin 61 is a cam 62 which includes a cam depression 65, spacedapart cam shoulders 63 and 64 which provide another cam depressiontherebetween and a cam land 66. Operating in conjunction with said cam62 is a cam follower 67 which is connected to die retainer 37 by a pin68 in an aperture 40. Said die retainer 37 consists of another block ofmetal having spring cavity 39, cam follower aperture 40, a crankaperture 38, and an anvil clearance aperture 41 formed therein. Said dieretainer 37 is vertically moveable in said cavity 30 upwardly by saidcam 62 and downwardly by a compression spring 44. A die 69 is mountedfast to the lower end of said die retainer 37 and contains an anvilaperture 70. An anvil 42 is rigidly mounted to said body 27 in saidanvil-holding aperture 33. An operative end 43 of said anvil 42 fitsslidably into said aperture 70 of said die 69. Cover plates 34, 35 and36 serve to contain said die retainer 37 and .[.a.]. .Iadd.said.Iaddend.punch retainer 45 in said cavity 30. Said punch retainer 45,which is connected to said crank 51 by said pin 50, consists of anotherblock of metal having a crank aperture 46 and a punch-holding aperture47 formed therein. A punch 48 is rigidly mounted to said punch retainer45. Said spring 44 is contained by said spring cavities 29 and 39 andserves to keep said cam follower 67 in contact with said cam 62.

FIG. 6 shows the spot clinch tool 20 at the beginning of the powerstroke of said power source 32 .Iadd.and of said ram (or punch retainer45) .Iaddend.with said cam actuating finger 60 engaged with said camshoulder 63 and holding said cam follower 67 on said cam land 66 whichin turn compresses said spring 44 and holds said die 69 above said anviloperative end 43 and punch operative end 49 above said die 69, allwithin said access aperture 31. The work in the form of metal sheets 22and 23, in the instance, is either fed into said access aperture 31 andlaid upon said die 69 in proper position beneath said punch 48 where thejoint 21 is to be formed therein or said sheets 22 and 23 are heldstationary and said tool 20 is moved into position around said sheets 22and 23 so that the latter are disposed in said access aperture 31 toform said joint 21 therein .[.were.]. .Iadd.where .Iaddend.desired.During a first part of said power stroke said operative end 49 of saidpunch 48 is moved toward said die 69 and during a second part of saidpower stroke said punch 48 lances the sheets 22 and 23 through as shownin FIG. 7, forming a depression 25 in said joint 21. The pins 50, 53 and61, along with the crank 51 and the links 57, constitute a three pintoggle mechanism in which said pin 61 remains stationary while said pin50 moves up and down and said pin 53 moves in and out of alignment withsaid pins 50 and 61. When said pin 53 is aligned with said pins 50 and61 the toggle mechanism is locked and when said pin 53 is out ofalignment with said pins 50 and 61 the toggle mechanism is unlocked.Such movement of said punch 48 is accomplished directly by said togglemechanism consequent upon initial downward movement of the rod end 56.Said toggle mechanism connects said punch 48 to said power source 32 sothat the latter drives the former in a substantially harmonic motion inrespect to the base 27 and so that first and second multiplications ofthe force of said power source 32 are achieved during the lancing andswaging steps, respectively, in the formation of said joint 21. Thelancing by the punch 48 is fully completed before said pin 53 moves intoits lock position. While the lancing is being accomplished, the camactuating finger 59 advances toward said cam shoulder 64 and rotatessaid cam 62 so that during a third part of the power stroke the cam 62is positioned to allow said cam follower 67 to enter said cam depression65 as urged by said spring 44, thus retracting said die 69 belowoperative end 49 of said punch 48, as shown in FIG. 10. Retraction ofsaid die 69 below said operative end 49 as shown in FIG. 10 prior to thesubsequent swaging step to be described prepares the way and makes roomfor the expulsion of the swaged material on the side of the metal sheets22 and 23 opposite that from which said depression 25 is formed,particularly as shown at 26 in FIG. 4. During such movement of said die69 the shoulder 64 leaves the finger 59 upon rotation of the cam 62 bythe cam follower 67. Such movement of said die 69 is accomplishedindirectly by said toggle mechanism consequent upon further downwardmovement of said rod end 56 and directly by said cam follower 67 movinginto said cam depression 65. During a fourth and final part of saidpower stroke the operative end 49 of said punch 48 is moved toward saidoperative end 43 of said anvil 42 and swages the lanced portions of thesheets 22 and 23 as shown in FIG. 11. Such movement of said punch 48 isaccomplished directly by said toggle mechanism moving to lock positionconsequent upon final downward movement of said rod end 56.Multiplication of the force of said power source 32 by said togglemechanism is at a maximum during this swaging step. The swaging by saidpunch 48 is completed by completion of the movement of the pin 53 intoits lock position at the end of the power stroke of said power source32. During this swaging step the lanced portions of the sheets 22 and 23are enlarged or expulsed, as at 26, to a greater dimension than thedepression 25 so that the joint 21 is completely and permanently locked.

During a first part of the retract stroke of said power source 32.Iadd.and of said ram (or punch retainer 45) .Iaddend.said punch 48 ismoved away from said anvil 42 and out of said depression 25 before saiddie 69 is moved as shown in FIG. 14. During such movement of said punch48 the finger 60 moves toward the shoulder 63 in a lost motion action(by reason of said cam depression between the cam shoulders 63 and 64being greater in dimension than the space between said fingers 59 and60) so that all movement of said die 69 is prevented during upwardretraction of said operative end 49 out of said depression 25 and awayfrom said sheets 22 and 23 to insure that the joint 21 just .[.formedand finally swages.]. .Iadd.made .Iaddend.is not in any way deformed orimpaired by said die 69. Such movement of the punch 48 is accomplisheddirectly by said toggle mechanism moving out of its lock positionconsequent upon initial upward movement of said rod end 56. Said lostmotion action is designated 71 (see FIGS. 7 and 11) and allows saidcrank 51 to raise said punch 48 before said cam actuating finger 60contacts said cam shoulder 63 in said retract stroke. During a secondand final part of said retract stroke said die 69 is raised back to itsstarting position as shown in FIG. 15. The upper end of FIG. 15 (notshown) is identical to that shown in FIG. 6. Such movement of said die69 is accomplished indirectly by said toggle mechanism consequent uponfinal upward movement of said rod end 56 and directly by said camfollower 67 being moved out of said cam depression 65 by virtue of saidcam finger 60 pushing upon said shoulders 63 to raise said cam follower67 upon said cam land 66. During such movement of said die 69 the partsof said tool 20 are moved back to their respective initial startingpositions including said spring 44 which is compressed to its initialstarting condition. The work is either removed from said access aperture31 and a new work inserted in its place and the aforementioned operationrepeated or the same work can be indexed to a new position to formrepeated spaced apart joints therein (sometimes referred to as amechanical stitch seam consisting of said spaced apart joints) or thetool 20 is moved, while the work is held stationary, either to a newwork or indexed in respect to the same work to form said mechanicalstitch seam. The tool 20 is operative not only in the vertical positionshown but in an overhead or any other position in which said tool 20 maybe oriented.

The tool 20 is operated in said one complete stroke of said power source32 .Iadd.and of said ram (or punch retainer 45) .Iaddend.and during suchoperation of said tool 20 the punch 48 moves in respect to the base 27in a substantially harmonic motion during said complete stroke of saidpower source 32 .Iadd.and of said ram (or punch retainer 45).Iaddend.due to the action of said toggle mechanism. The anvil 42remains stationary in respect to said base 27 all during the operationof said tool 20. During the first part of the power stroke said punch 48moves downwardly to meet the anvil 42 and thereafter the lancing step isaccomplished during a second part of said power stroke by said punch 48piercing through the metal sheets 22 and 23 and forming said depression25 while said die 69 is maintained elevated in respect to said anvil 42.A first force multiplication of said power source 32 is achieved at thepunch 48 by said toggle mechanism during this lancing step. Uponcompletion of the lancing step said die 69 is lowered during a thirdpart of said power stroke to the operative end 43 of said anvil 42 toaccomodate the expulsion or cold flow of the work which will occurduring the subsequent swaging step. During the fourth and final part ofthe power stroke the lanced portions of the metal sheets 22 and 23 areswaged by movement of said punch 48 to its maximum close position inrespect to the anvil 42. Force multiplication of the power source 32 bysaid toggle mechanism at said punch 48 is at a maximum and saidexpulsion 26 of said lanced portions occurs during said .[.swaaging.]..Iadd.swaging .Iaddend.step. The retract stroke of said power source 32.Iadd.and of said ram (or punch retainer 45) .Iaddend.commmences uponcompletion of said swaging step and during the first part of saidretract stroke said die 69 is maintained stationary in respect to saidoperative end 43 by said lost motion arrangement to insure movement ofthe punch 48 out of said depression 25 and above the work prior to anymovement whatsoever of said die 69. During the second and final part ofsaid retract stroke the die 69 is raised above said operative end 43 andthe punch 48 is raised further above the work so that said die 69 andsaid punch 48 assume their respective initial starting positions.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided by my invention methodand means of forming a clinch joint in which the objects hereinabove setforth, together with many thoroughly practical advantages, have beensuccessfully achieved. While a preferred embodiment of my invention hasbeen shown and described, it is to be understood that variations andchanges may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of myinvention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:
 1. Spot clinch tool for forming a spot clinch joint bylancing and swaging two or more materials together using one completestroke of a .Iadd.ram driven by a .Iaddend.power source in a singlestation, .[.said power source having a power stroke and a retractstroke,.]. said tool .Iadd.having a tool body and .Iaddend.utilizing ananvil, die, and punch .Iadd.ram moving .Iaddend.means .[.for moving.]..Iadd.connecting said ram to said power source so that said ram isdriven in a power stroke and a retract stroke, means joining.Iaddend.one of said punch and anvil .Iadd.to said ram and the other tosaid tool body, whereby one is made moveable .Iaddend.while.[.maintaining.]. the other .Iadd.is maintained .Iaddend.stationary.Iadd.in respect to said tool body .Iaddend.during said complete strokeof said .[.power source.]. .Iadd.ram.Iaddend., .[.means for moving.]..Iadd.and cam means coupled to said ram moving means responsive to thestroking movement of said ram for controlling positioning of said dierelative to said anvil and punch during said complete stroke of saidram, said .Iaddend.one of said punch and anvil .Iadd.being moved.Iaddend.toward the other during a first part of said power stroke,.[.means for piercing.]. said materials .Iadd.being pierced.Iaddend.with said punch and die to lance them during a second part ofsaid power stroke, .[.means for holding the.]. .Iadd.said cam meanscontrolling positioning of said .Iaddend.die in a first position.[.spaced from the.]. .Iadd.stationary in respect to said .Iaddend.anvilduring both said first and second parts of said power stroke, .[.meansfor moving the.]. .Iadd.said cam means controlling movement of said.Iaddend.die .Iadd.from said first position .Iaddend.to a secondposition .Iadd.stationary .Iaddend.in respect to said anvil during athird part of said power stroke, .[.means for swaging.]. the lancedportions of said materials .Iadd.being swaged .Iaddend.with said punchand anvil during a fourth and final part of said power stroke, .[.meansfor maintaining the.]. .Iadd.said cam means controlling positioning ofsaid .Iaddend.die .[.and the anvil.]. in said second position.Iadd.stationary in respect to said anvil .Iaddend.during said fourthand final part of said power stroke and during a first part of saidretract stroke, and .[.means for moving.]. .Iadd.said cam meanscontrolling movement of .Iaddend.said die relative to said anvil fromsaid second position to said first position during a second and finalpart of said retract stroke.Iadd., means for holding said die includinga moveable die retainer for holding the die, said cam means beingactuated to control movement of said die and die retainer from saidfirst to said second position by the continued movement of said ram insaid third part of said power stroke, and said cam means being actuatedto control movement of said die and die retainer from said second tosaid first position by the continued movement of said ram in said secondand final part of said retract stroke.Iaddend..
 2. Spot clinch tool asclaimed in claim 1 in which said .Iadd.punch is made moveable by beingjoined to the ram and the .Iaddend.anvil .[.is maintained stationaryduring said complete stroke of said power source.]. .Iadd.is madestationary by being joined to the tool body .Iaddend.and .[.furthercomprising.]. .Iadd.in which said ram moving means includes .Iaddend.atoggle mechanism, .[.said toggle mechanism moveable during said completestroke of said power source for moving said punch in a substantiallyharmonic motion in respect to said anvil during said complete stroke ofsaid power source,.]. said toggle mechanism achieving .[.first andsecond.]. force multiplications at said punch of the force of said powersource .[.during said lancing and swaging steps, respectively, cammeans, cam actuator means for actuating said cam means, said camactuator means operative during movement of said toggle mechanism, saidcam means and said cam actuator means together holding said diestationary in said first position during both said first and secondparts of said power stroke and moving said die to said second positionduring said third part of said power stroke and maintaining said diestationary in said second position during said fourth and final part ofsaid power stroke and during said first part of said retract stroke, andmoving said die from said second position to said first position andmaintaining said die stationary in said first position during saidsecond and final part of said retract stroke.]..Iadd., and said cammeans coupled between said die retainer and said toggle mechanismwhereby said die retainer is maintained stationary in respect to thetool body in each of said first and second positions relative to theanvil.Iaddend..
 3. Spot clinch tool as claimed in claim 2 .Iadd.in whichsaid cam means includes a cam, a cam follower, and a cam actuator, saidcam follower joined to said die retainer, said cam means and camactuator joined to said toggle mechanism.Iaddend., said cam means.[.having a depression formed therein so that during said first part ofsaid retract stroke said cam means remains stationary during movement ofsaid cam actuator means.]. .Iadd.operative .Iaddend.to maintain said die.Iadd.in said second position .Iaddend.stationary .Iadd.in respect tosaid anvil .Iaddend.to permit movement of the punch away from the anvilduring said first part of said retract stroke and prior to finalmovement of said die .Iadd.retainer .Iaddend.to .[.its.]. .Iadd.an.Iaddend.initial starting position.
 4. Spot clinch tool as claimed in.[.claim 2 further comprising, cam follower means operative upon saidcam means, a die retainer means for holding said die, said cam followermeans fast in respect to said die retainer means, and.]. .Iadd.claim 1further comprising .Iaddend.yieldable means operatie upon said dieretainer .[.means.]. for .[.maintaining said cam follower means biasedagainst said cam means.]. .Iadd.moving same from said first to saidsecond position in response to a camming action of said cammeans.Iaddend..
 5. Spot clinch method for forming a spot clinch joint bylancing and swaging two or more materials together using one completestroke of a .Iadd.ram driven by a .Iaddend.power source in a singlestation, .[.said power source having a power stroke and a retractstroke,.]. said method utilizing an anvil, die, and punch .Iadd.arrangedin a tool body.Iaddend., said method comprising .[.moving.]..Iadd.connecting said ram to said power source so that said ram isdriven in a power stroke and a retract stroke, joining .Iaddend.one ofsaid punch and anvil .Iadd.to said ram and the other to said tool body,whereby one is made moveable .Iaddend.while .[.maintaining.]. the other.Iadd.is maintained .Iaddend.stationary .Iadd.in respect to said toolbody .Iaddend.during said complete stroke of said .[.power source.]..Iadd.ram, and providing camming actions responsive to the strokingmovement of said ram for controlling positioning of said die relative tosaid anvil and punch during said complete stroke of said ram.Iaddend.,moving said one of said punch and anvil toward the other during a firstpart of said power stroke, lancing said materials by piercing them withsaid punch and die during a second part of said power stroke, .[.holdingthe.]. .Iadd.one of said camming actions controlling positioning of said.Iaddend.die in a first position .[.spaced from the.]. .Iadd.stationaryin respect to said .Iaddend.anvil during both said first and secondparts of said power stroke, .[.moving the.]. .Iadd.another cammingaction controlling movement of said .Iaddend.die .Iadd.from said firstposition .Iaddend.to a second position .Iadd.stationary .Iaddend.inrespect to said anvil during a third part of said power stroke, swagingthe lanced portion of said materials with said punch and anvil during afourth and final part of said power stroke, .[.maintaining the.]..Iadd.another camming action controlling positioning of said.Iaddend.die .[.and the anvil.]. in said second position.Iadd.stationary in respect to said anvil .Iaddend.during said fourthand final part of said power stroke and during a first part of saidretract stroke, and .[.moving.]. .Iadd.another camming actioncontrolling movement of .Iaddend.said die relative to said anvil fromsaid second .[.position.]. to said first position during a second andfinal part of said retract stroke.Iadd., providing a moveable dieretainer for holding said die, said camming action controlling movementof said die and die retainer from said first to said second positionbeing initiated by the continued movement of said ram in said third partof said power stroke, and said camming action controlling movement ofsaid die and die retainer from said second to said first position beinginitiated by the continued movement of said ram in said second and finalpart of said retract stroke.Iaddend..
 6. Spot clinch method as claimedin claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.5 .Iaddend.in which said .Iadd.punch is mademoveable by being joined to said ram and said .Iaddend.anvil is.[.maintained.]. .Iadd.made .Iaddend.stationary .[.and said punch ismoved in a substantially harmonic motion in respect to said anvil duringsaid complete stroke of said power source.]. .Iadd.by being joined tosaid tool body.Iaddend., and in which .[.said die is held stationary insaid first position during both said first and second parts of saidpower stroke and moved to said second position during said third part ofsaid power stroke and maintained stationary in said second positionduring said fourth and final part of said power stroke and during saidfirst part of said retract stroke, and moved from said second to saidfirst position and maintained stationary in said first position duringsaid second and final part of said retract stroke.]. .Iadd.a toggleaction is used in the connection between the ram and the power source toachieve force multiplications at said punch of the force of said powersource, said camming actions being coupled to said toggle action,whereby said die retainer is maintained stationary in respect to saidtool body in each of said first and second positions relative to saidanvil.Iaddend.. .Iadd.
 7. Spot clinch tool for forming a spot clinchjoint by lancing and swaging two or more materials together using onecomplete stroke of a ram driven by a power source in a single station,said tool having a tool body and utilizing an anvil, die and punch, rammoving means connecting said ram to said power source so that said ramis driven in a power stroke and a retract stroke, means joining saidpunch to said ram and said anvil to said tool body, whereby said punchis made moveable while said anvil is maintained stationary in respect tosaid tool body during the complete stroke of said ram, and cam meanscoupled to said ram moving means responsive to the stroking movement ofsaid ram for controlling positioning of said die relative to said anviland punch during said complete stroke of said ram, said punch beingmoved toward said anvil during a first part of said power stroke, saidmaterials being pierced with said punch and die to lance them during asecond part of said power stroke, said cam means controlling positioningof said die in a first position stationary in respect to said anvilduring both said first and second parts of said power stroke, said cammeans controlling movement of said die from said first position to asecond position stationary in respect to said anvil during a third partof said power stroke, the lanced portions of said materials being swagedwith said punch and anvil during a fourth and final part of said powerstroke, said cam means controlling positioning of said die in saidsecond position stationary in respect to said anvil during said fourthand final part of said power stroke and during a first part of saidretract stroke, and said cam means controlling movement of said dierelative to said anvil from said second position to said first positionduring a second and final part of said retract stroke, means for holdingsaid die including a moveable die retainer therefor, said cam meansbeing actuated to control movement of said die and die retainer fromsaid first to said second position by the continued movement of said ramin said third part of said power stroke, and said cam means beingactuated to control movement of said die and die retainer from saidsecond to said first position by the continued movement of said ram insaid second and final part of said retract. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 8. Spotclinch method for forming a spot clinch joint by lancing and swaging twoor more materials together using one complete stroke of a ram driven bya power source in a single station, said ram having a power stroke and aretract stroke, said method utilizing an anvil, die and punch arrangedin a tool body, said method comprising connecting said ram to said powersource so that said ram is driven in a power stroke and a retractstroke, joining said punch to said ram and said anvil to said tool body,whereby said punch is made moveable while said anvil is maintainedstationary in respect to said tool body during said complete stroke ofsaid ram, and providing camming actions responsive to the strokingmovement of said ram for controlling positioning of said die relative tosaid anvil and punch during said complete stroke of said ram, movingsaid punch toward said anvil during a first part of said power stroke,lancing said materials by piercing them with said punch and die during asecond part of said power stroke, one of said camming actionscontrolling positioning of said die in a first position stationary inrespect to said anvil during both said first and second parts of saidpower stroke, another camming action controlling movement of the diefrom said first position to a second position stationary in respect tosaid anvil during a third part of said power stroke, swaging the lancedportion of said materials with said punch and anvil during a fourth andfinal part of said power stroke, another camming action controllingpositioning of said die in said second position stationary in respect tosaid anvil during said fourth and final part of said power stroke andduring a first part of said retract stroke, and another camming actioncontrolling movement of said die relative to said anvil from said secondto said first position during a second and final part of said retractstroke, providing a moveable die retainer for holding said die, saidcamming action controlling movement of said die and die retainer fromsaid first to said second position being initiated by the continuedmovement of said ram in said third part of said power stroke, and saidcamming action controlling movement of said die and die retainer fromsaid second to said first position being initiated by the continuedmovement of said ram in said second and final part of said retractstroke. .Iaddend.